from Daena in Marshfield, WI:
#725
Do appliances and electronics use more energy at higher levels? For example, does a treadmill use more energy at higher speeds and do lights use more energy at the brighter settings on multi-setting lights?
An increase of wattage = an increase in power consumption.
Great question! As a general rule any time you are increasing wattage, you are increasing power consumption. A treadmill used at a higher speed will draw more current than one used at a lower speed. Lights used at the “brighter setting” are also using more energy. The numbered “settings” you find on multi-setting lights are telling you how much energy the bulb uses at each setting.
You can find out how much energy your appliances, electronics and lighting are using with a watt meter. A watt meter is a fun way to find out how much electricity home appliances and electronics consume. (A watt meter is an electronic instrument that measures the power (watts) used by devices. When you plug the meter into the appliance, you can measure how much electricity your appliances/electronics are using and what they are costing you.) Plug the watt meter into an outlet, and then plug a device into the watt meter. Try it with the device on, then turn it off to see the difference—and to catch a glimpse of "standby power” at work! Visit your local library to see if they have a watt meter you can borrow. If your library does not have a watt meter at that location, they can get one through an inter-library loan. To find out more about your household appliances and how much energy they use, view our appliance energy use fact sheet.